The duo were first called into the squad earlier this year to take part in the OFC U-17 Preliminary in Samoa and both describe it as an unforgettable experience which they are keen to repeat this week at the OFC U-17 Championship in Vanuatu.
“When I first heard about it being possible to represent the Cook Islands I sort of brushed it off because I’d never associated it with football,” Bonsu-Maro says.
“But when we had our first game in Samoa and I actually heard the anthem I kind of wanted to cry. I started getting quite emotional and was thinking about how I’m representing my mum and the Cook Islands and everything that they’d worked for.”
The close friends have grown up in New Zealand and play their club and school football together at Central United and Onehunga High School, so were lucky to have one another to rely on when coming into the unfamiliar Cook Islands U-17 national team environment.
While they expected an element of difficulty to arise when integrating into the team, both say it was an easy process.
“I think we’ve done pretty well in terms of integrating,” Inia says. “The hardest thing was learning all their names, but other than that they’re a really good group of boys, really welcoming. They treat Maro and I like family, it’s nice.”
Set to reunite with the teammates in Vanuatu, Bonsu-Maro and Inia are looking forward to the challenge that awaits them, and while positive about their chances are also realistic.
“We’re expecting this competition to be more difficult than the preliminary one was,” Inia says. “We’re going to be coming up against much better teams, with more quality players and I am expecting full on work – especially for me as a goalkeeper.”
Bonsu-Maro says since the preliminary he has been thinking about a potential match-up with New Zealand and it’s a prospect that excites him.
“I’m really happy and I can’t wait to play them. From when the first tournament started Keegan and I wanted to win so that we could play New Zealand and now we want to beat them,” Bonsu-Maro says. “If you can’t be with them, beat them.”
Playing in New Zealand the two have come into contact with several of the New Zealand U-17 players either as teammates or opposition. With the Kiwis their tournament opening opponent any knowledge they have gleaned is sure to provide a handy to Cook Island coach Tuka Tisam.
“I’ve played with a few of the boy and I know a few of them pretty well,” Inia says. “I know how they play, how big they are, their strengths, their weaknesses. But I guess I’m still nervous because I don’t want them to get a win over us. I’m really hoping they don’t score. It’s going to be a huge game, it’s really exciting.”
As for the remainder of their opposition, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, the boys don’t know a lot other than they expect them to be fierce opponents who are just as hungry to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates as the Cook Islands and New Zealand are.
“It’s not going to be an easy run, but it’s all in your imagination so I just imagine winning, Bonsu-Maro says. “The 90 minutes are over, we’re winning 1-0 and that’s all I think of and just stay positive.”
Bonsu-Maro and Inia flew out of New Zealand on Sunday to join their teammates in Vanuatu ahead of the OFC U-17 Championship which is being held in Santo from 17-25 April.
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com

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